Crime

Dyfed-Powys police precept was increased despite ‘transparency concerns’

Published

1 year ago

February 3, 2025

Panel backs 8.6% rise as funding pressures mount, but questions remain over spending priorities

THE DYFED-POWYS POLICE and Crime Panel unanimously approved an 8.6% increase in the police precept for the 2025-26 financial year, a decision that will see Band D households paying an additional £28.65 per year.

The move, backed at a meeting in County Hall, Haverfordwest, last week came amid mounting financial pressures on the force, which Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn said was “struggling to maintain services in the face of inflation, increased demand, and declining central government support.”

With the rise, Dyfed-Powys remains the cheapest force in Wales in terms of council tax contributions, but concerns over transparency, recruitment struggles, and the force’s ability to deliver improvements have led to debate among councillors and the public.

PUBLIC CALLS FOR CLARITY ON PRECEPT-SETTING PROCESS

One of the most contentious issues raised at the meeting was the public’s lack of understanding of how the precept is set and spent.

A public question submitted to the panel challenged the clarity of police funding, stating that many council tax premium payers—who contribute three times the standard rate—feel left in the dark about how their money is allocated.

Commissioner defends process, blames Home Office for lack of transparency

Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn defended the process, highlighting that his office had presented a detailed budget report and that public consultations had taken place.

However, he admitted that the Home Office funding formula remains opaque, stating:

“The way policing is funded in the UK is deeply complex. At present, 56% of Dyfed-Powys Police’s budget comes from local council tax precepts, while central government funding has steadily declined over the past decade.”

Despite efforts to explain the precept-setting process, several panel members acknowledged that more needs to be done to simplify public communications about how and why tax increases are necessary.

WHY IS THE INCREASE NECESSARY?

Llywelyn outlined several key financial pressures necessitating the 8.6% increase, including:

Officer pay rises and inflation – Increased salary costs for officers and staff, driven by national pay settlements and rising employer contributions to National Insurance and pensions.
Loss of Welsh Government grants – The school liaison programme, previously funded by Welsh Government, is now being covered by Dyfed-Powys Police’s own budget, requiring additional local funding.
Workforce modernisation – Increased investment in frontline policing, with efforts to free up officers by relying more on police staff and AI-driven automation tools.
Rural crime concerns – A growing issue in the Dyfed-Powys region, particularly the theft of agricultural vehicles (ATVs), with £500,000 earmarked for enhancing rural crime prevention strategies.
Investment in AI and digital policing tools – The force is trialling AI-driven software to assist in areas such as redacting sensitive case files, processing victim reports, and even fireworks licensing.

COMPARISONS WITH OTHER WELSH FORCES

Llywelyn pointed out that, even with the increase, Dyfed-Powys residents will still pay the lowest police precept in Wales.

Band D council tax comparisons for 2025-26 (estimated):

Dyfed-Powys: £360.68
Gwent: £374.20
North Wales: £385.50
South Wales: £395.80

Despite this, some panel members raised concerns that cost-of-living pressures could make even small increases difficult for struggling households.

PANEL BACKS INCREASE BUT SCRUTINISES SPENDING PLANS

The precept was approved following a presentation by Councillor Keith Evans, who led the Finance Sub-Group’s scrutiny of the proposed 2025-26 police budget.

Panel members questioned several aspects of the spending plans, including:

Recruitment and retention – are officers staying?

While 245 officers were recruited in 2023/24 and 213 in 2024/25, the force is struggling to retain staff, with many leaving within three to seven years. A retention officer has been appointed to understand why officers are leaving and improve working conditions. Llywelyn admitted that pay, workload, and a lack of career progression were major factors in officer departures.

Police station closures – fewer public contact points

Concerns were raised over the accessibility of policing services, with only two stations—Haverfordwest and Pembroke Dock—offering front desk services. Llywelyn defended the shift toward digital and phone-based policing, stating that 101 call response times have improved and that more people now contact police via social media or online portals.

Rural crime – a growing concern

Theft of ATVs, livestock, and fuel has been rising, particularly in Carmarthenshire and Powys. Llywelyn stated that the Rural Crime Team is expanding to advise farmers on crime prevention and increase visibility in rural areas. A new crime prevention initiative will see officers working with insurance companies to mark vehicles and equipment to deter theft.

AI and digital policing – how much is being spent?

The force is investing in AI to speed up administrative tasks, such as:

Redacting case files before submission to the Crown Prosecution Service.
Using automated translation tools for victim and witness statements.
Developing digital contact tools for low-risk domestic abuse cases.

Some panel members questioned whether AI investments would reduce officer workload or simply divert funds from frontline services.

COST-OF-LIVING CONCERNS – HOW WILL HOUSEHOLDS COPE?

Despite approving the increase, some panel members raised concerns about the impact on households already struggling with higher energy bills, food prices, and mortgage rates.

Llywelyn acknowledged the financial strain but stressed that without the increase, police services would be forced to cut back.

“To maintain the same level of service, we need an additional £6 million in funding. This precept increase ensures we can keep officers on the streets and continue tackling crime effectively.”

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

With the 8.6% precept increase now approved, Dyfed-Powys Police will move forward with:

Officer recruitment and retention initiatives.
Expanding rural crime prevention efforts.
AI and digital policing trials.
New scrutiny structures, including quarterly Strategic Performance Meetings and deep dives into key policing issues.

While the panel supported the rise, it is clear that public scrutiny of police spending remains high, particularly regarding whether the promised improvements materialise.

The next Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Panel meeting will assess whether these investments have delivered tangible results.

Crime

Man charged with attempted murder after Carmarthen park incident

Published

11 hours ago

February 4, 2026

Tom Sinclair

57-year-old due in court following alleged knife and stalking offences

A MAN has been charged with attempted murder following a serious incident in Carmarthen town centre last week.

Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed that James McKenna, aged 57, from Carmarthen, has been charged with attempted murder, possession of a bladed article in a public place, and stalking.

The charges relate to an incident in Carmarthen Park on Thursday (Jan 29), which prompted a significant emergency services response and caused concern among residents.

Police have not yet released full details of the circumstances, but officers were seen in and around the park area for several hours following the incident while enquiries were carried out.

McKenna is due to appear before Llanelli Magistrates Court on Thursday (Feb 5).

The Herald understands the case involves allegations of both violence and targeted behaviour towards an individual, with stalking listed among the charges.

Public concern

Carmarthen Park is a popular and busy public space used daily by families, dog walkers and joggers, and incidents of this severity are rare.

The news has prompted concern locally, particularly as the alleged offences include possession of a knife in a public place.

Residents have previously raised questions about safety in parks and open spaces across west Wales, especially during darker winter evenings.

Court proceedings

At this stage, the charges remain allegations and the case will now proceed through the courts.

Magistrates will decide whether the case is sent to Crown Court due to the seriousness of the attempted murder charge.

Further details are expected to emerge during Thursday’s hearing.

The Herald will be attending court and will provide updates as they become available.

Crime

Sex offender jailed after living off grid in Pembrokeshire and refusing to register

Published

11 hours ago

February 4, 2026

Court Reporter

Man walked into police station after months avoiding authorities

A CONVICTED sex offender who told police he intended to live “off grid” rather than comply with legal monitoring rules has been jailed after handing himself in at a Pembrokeshire police station.

Christopher Spelman, aged 66, of no fixed address, appeared for sentence at Swansea Crown Court after admitting breaching the notification requirements of the sex offenders register.

The court heard Spelman was released from prison in Dorset on July 4 last year but immediately refused to provide police with an address, despite being legally required to do so within three days.

Instead, he indicated he planned to buy a tent and live outdoors.

Prosecutor Brian Simpson said officers subsequently launched a nationwide search when Spelman failed to make contact with police. Public appeals were issued and his case featured on the television programme Crimewatch.

Detectives believed he had been travelling around the UK using public transport and staying at campsites. He was known to have links to several areas including Merseyside, Manchester, Devon, Cornwall and Hampshire.

His whereabouts remained unknown until January 3 this year, when he walked into Haverfordwest police station and was arrested. It is unclear how long he had been in Pembrokeshire.

Spelman previously served seven years in prison after being convicted in 2014 of 12 counts of sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 14. He was placed on the sex offenders register for life.

The court heard this was not the first time he had failed to comply with the rules. After an earlier release in 2016, he again failed to register his address and avoided police for around five years before being caught.

He has 11 previous convictions for 29 offences.

Defence barrister Andrew Evans described the case as unusual and said his client had long disputed his original conviction and had expressed a wish to live “outside society”.

However, he said Spelman had gradually accepted that he remained subject to court orders and now wanted more stable accommodation and a chance to rebuild his life. The defendant asked the court to impose a custodial sentence so arrangements could be made for his future release.

Judge Geraint Walters noted there were signs Spelman wished to change but warned that any further breaches would result in longer prison terms.

With credit for his guilty plea, Spelman was sentenced to 10 months in prison. He will serve up to half in custody before being released on licence.

Crime

Former Wales rugby star admits Christmas Day drink-driving offence

Published

17 hours ago

February 4, 2026

Sarah-Jane Absalom

Ex-Ospreys captain was almost twice over limit in Pembroke town centre

Former Wales back row Jonathan Thomas has admitted driving through Pembroke town centre on Christmas Day when he was almost twice over the drink-drive limit.

This week Haverfordwest magistrates heard that Thomas, 43, was stopped by officers as he drove his Mercedes CLA 220 along The Green, Pembroke, at around 5pm on Christmas Day.

“The officers were very concerned at the manner of his driving, as the car was being driven erratically and was swerving to the other side of the road,” said Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan.

“When Jonathan Thomas got out of the car, the officers could see that he was having difficulty standing and was unsteady on his feet.”

Subsequent breathalyser tests showed Thomas had 62 mcg of alcohol in his system, the legal limit being 35.

Thomas, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to the drink-drive charge and was represented in court by solicitor Jess Hill.

“He has family in the area and had travelled to spend time with them on Christmas Day,” she told the magistrates. “He’s very remorseful for his actions and hugely regrets his decision that day.”

Jess Hill concluded by saying that Thomas is currently “between jobs and living off his savings”.

Thomas, who gave his address as Main Road, Bredon, was disqualified from driving for a total of 18 months.

“The length of your disqualification reflects the fact that you were more than a little bit over the limit,” commented the presiding magistrates when imposing sentence.

He was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £48 court surcharge.

The former Wales back row left his role as Swansea RFC head coach at the beginning of December 2025 as a result of ongoing health concerns. He was forced to retire from playing in 2015 on medical advice after being diagnosed with epilepsy and is one of the 390 former rugby union players currently taking part in a concussion lawsuit against the sport’s authorities.

“Long-standing issues linked to the head trauma have caused me some concern recently and it has been impossible for me to give the role everything it needs,” he said in a previous interview with the BBC.

His rugby career started out with Pembroke RFC juniors before moving to Swansea RFC, which he captained when he was 19. He then joined the Ospreys where, over a ten-year period, he won four league titles and an Anglo-Welsh Cup. He was the youngest player to captain the Ospreys and, at the time of leaving, was the joint highest appearance holder, together with Andrew Bishop, on 188 appearances.

His international career saw him play for Wales at Under-16, Youth, Under-19, Under-21 and Sevens levels. He made his senior international debut against Australia in 2003, featured at the 2007 Rugby World Cup and was part of two Six Nations Grand Slam-winning sides in 2005 and 2008. Between 2004 and 2011, Thomas was included in every Wales Six Nations squad. In his appearances for Wales, he scored seven tries.